EP2917964A1 - Réseau d'antennes de formation de faisceau - Google Patents

Réseau d'antennes de formation de faisceau

Info

Publication number
EP2917964A1
EP2917964A1 EP13860586.0A EP13860586A EP2917964A1 EP 2917964 A1 EP2917964 A1 EP 2917964A1 EP 13860586 A EP13860586 A EP 13860586A EP 2917964 A1 EP2917964 A1 EP 2917964A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
target users
antenna elements
reflector
beam forming
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13860586.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2917964A4 (fr
Inventor
Dedi D. HAZIZA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Huawei Technologies Co Ltd filed Critical Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Publication of EP2917964A1 publication Critical patent/EP2917964A1/fr
Publication of EP2917964A4 publication Critical patent/EP2917964A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/24—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
    • H01Q3/247—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching by switching different parts of a primary active element
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/2291—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
    • H01Q19/10—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces
    • H01Q19/106—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/24—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to communication network, and more particularly, to beam forming antenna array.
  • wireless local access network and WiFi technologies evolve, the demand increases to support a higher capacity (e.g., more users) while maintaining throughput and quality of service (QoS). Additionally, as the number of users and user terminals increases the hostility of the transmission environment may also increase, which may result in more interference, spectral inefficiencies, and lower data throughput for individual users.
  • a multi-user broadband wireless (e.g., WiFi) environment e.g., a business center, an office, a hotel, a hospital, etc.
  • each user may act as a source of noise (e.g., interference) for other users in a conventional WLAN comprising an omnidirectional antenna system.
  • data throughput for each user may be reduced because of interference the. Additionally, due to spectral inefficiencies and bandwidth limitations the data throughput for each user may be further reduced.
  • Conventional WLAN devices, systems, and methods may employ a beam forming antenna system to improve the efficiency (e.g., spectral efficiency, data throughput, etc.) of the system and to alleviate the hostility of the transmission environment.
  • a beam forming antenna system may be employed to direct and/or to focus an antenna radio frequency (RF) pattern towards one or more specific users.
  • RF radio frequency
  • Conventional beam forming approaches are often complex, large, and inefficient.
  • conventional WLAN devices, system, and methods comprising a beam forming antenna system may require designing directive antenna elements and/or comprise one or more active circuits (e.g., amplifiers, phase shifting circuits, etc.).
  • conventional beam forming methods may experience performance degradation in an indoor multipath environment, for example, due to multipath distortion.
  • Such conventional methods may employ predetermined antenna RF patterns and may not the ability to reconfigure the antenna RF patterns. As such, devices, systems, and methods for more efficiently providing the ability to adjust and/or to steer an antenna RF pattern towards one or more target users are
  • a wireless access point device comprising a microcontroller unit, a transceiver coupled to the microcontroller unit, and a beam forming antenna coupled to the transceiver, wherein the beam forming antenna comprises a reflector, a switch, and two or more antenna elements substantially adjacent to the reflector and each coupled to the switch.
  • a beam forming method comprising identifying one or more target users, determining an antenna configuration, activating one or more antenna elements each comprising a reflector, thereby focusing an antenna radio frequency pattern towards the target users, and communicating with the target users, thereby transmitting data to the target users or receiving data from the target users.
  • a wireless access point device comprising a microcontroller unit, a transceiver coupled to the microcontroller unit, a beam forming antenna coupled to the transceiver, wherein the beam forming antenna comprises a reflector, two or more antenna elements substantially adjacent to the reflector, and a switch coupled to each antenna element, wherein the switch is configured to control the power to the antenna elements such that an RF pattern produced by the antenna elements is modified by turning on or off the antenna elements, and a memory coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the memory comprises instructions that cause the microcontroller to identify one or more target users, determine an antenna
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a portion of a WLAN device
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a beam forming antenna array
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a beam forming antenna array
  • FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of a beam forming antenna array
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a beam forming antenna array radio frequency pattern
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of a beam forming antenna array communicating with a single user
  • FIG. 7 is a top view of another embodiment of a beam forming antenna array
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of a beam forming antenna array communicating with two users
  • FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment of a beam forming antenna array communicating with four users.
  • FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a beam forming method.
  • a beam forming antenna array (BFAA), a WLAN device comprising a BFAA, and methods using the same.
  • the BFAA may be employed to provide the ability to adjust and/or to steer an antenna RF pattern towards one or more target users, thereby improving data throughput and improving spectral efficiency of the WLAN device, as will be disclosed herein.
  • the BFAA may be further configured to provide omni-directional coverage to one or more target users, when so configured, as will be disclosed herein.
  • FIG. 1 an embodiment of an operating environment of a BFAA is illustrated.
  • the operating environment generally comprises a plurality of functional units associated with a WLAN device, as will be disclosed herein.
  • the WLAN device 100 may comprise a plurality of functional units.
  • a functional unit e.g., an integrated circuit (IC)
  • the functional unit may perform a single function, for example, serving as an amplifier or a buffer.
  • the functional unit may perform multiple functions on a single chip.
  • the functional unit may comprise a group of components (e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors, diodes, and/or inductors) on an IC which may perform a defined function.
  • the functional unit may comprise a specific set of inputs, a specific set of outputs, and an interface (e.g., an electrical interface, a logical interface, and/or other interfaces) with other functional units of the IC and/or with external components.
  • the functional unit may comprise repeat instances of a single function (e.g., multiple flip-flops or adders on a single chip) or may comprise two or more different types of functional units which may together provide the functional unit with its overall functionality.
  • a microprocessor or a microcontroller may comprise functional units such as an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), one or more floating-point units (FPU), one or more load or store units, one or more branch prediction units, one or more memory controllers, and other such modules.
  • the functional unit may be further subdivided into component functional units.
  • a microprocessor or a microcontroller as a whole may be viewed as a functional unit of an IC, for example, if the microprocessor shares circuit with at least one other functional unit (e.g., a cache memory unit).
  • the functional units may comprise, for example, a general purpose processor, a mathematical processor, a state machine, a digital signal processor, a video processor, an audio processor, a modem, a radio, a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a logic unit, a logic element, a multiplexer, a demultiplexer, a switching unit, a switching element an input/output (I/O) element, a peripheral controller, a bus, a bus controller, a register, a combinatorial logic element, a storage unit, a programmable logic device, a memory unit, a neural network, a sensing circuit, a control circuit, a digital to analog converter, an analog to digital converter, an oscillator, a memory, a filter, an amplifier, a mixer, a modulator, a demodulator, and/or any other suitable devices as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the WLAN device 100 may comprise a plurality of distributed components and/or functional units and each functional unit may communicate with one or more other functional units via a suitable signal conduit, for example, via one or more electrical connections, as will be disclosed herein.
  • the operating environment comprises WLAN device 100 comprising a plurality of interconnected functional units, for example, for transmitting and/or receiving one or more RF signals (e.g., WiFi signals).
  • a WLAN device 100 may generally comprise various functional units including, but not limited to a microcontroller unit (MCU) 102, a transceiver 104, and a BFAA 200, arranged as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the WLAN device 100 is configured to transmit and/or to receive a RF signal (e.g., a WiFi signal) (e.g., to/from one or more target users). While FIG.
  • a BFAA 200 may be employed and/or a particular configuration of functional units with which a BFAA 200 may be associated, upon viewing this disclosure one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a BFAA 200 as will be disclosed herein may be similarly employed in alternative operating environments and/or with alternative configurations of WLAN device functional units.
  • the MCU 102 may be configured to control one or more functional units of the WLAN device 100 and/or to control data flow through the WLAN device 100.
  • the MCU 102 may be configured to communicate one or more electrical signals (e.g., data packets) with the transceiver 104 (e.g., via electrical connection 150) and/or to perform one or more processes on the electrical signals (e.g., authentication, packet monitoring logic, etc.).
  • one or more of the processes may be performed in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.
  • the MCU 102 may comprise a processor core, a logical unit (LU), a memory storage device, input/output (I/O) peripherals, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or any other suitable functional units as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • the LU may be configured to perform arithmetic operations and/or logical operations, for example, logical operations on an electrical signal from a transceiver.
  • the memory storage device may be generally configured to store information (e.g., data) for the WLAN device 100 and may be configured to read and/or to write data to one or more memory cells of the memory storage device.
  • the memory storage device may comprise a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, an external memory (e.g., a secure digital (SD) card), any suitable type of memory device as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure, or combinations thereof.
  • the I/O peripherals may be generally configured to transmit electrical signals and/or data signals between the MCU 102 and/or the WLAN device 100 and external hardware (e.g., an electrical outlet, a computer, etc.).
  • the DSP may be configured to manipulate, to modify, and/or to improve an electrical signal, for example, an electrical signal from a transceiver.
  • the transceiver 104 may be configured to conform to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and/or 802.16 standards and/or protocols. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the transceiver 104 may be configured to conform to any other suitable standards and/or protocols as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the arts upon viewing this disclosure.
  • IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • the transceiver 104 may be generally configured to support and/or to provide wireless communications to/from the WLAN device 100 (e.g., via the BFAA 200).
  • the transceiver 104 may generally comprise a media access controller (MAC) 106 and a front-end module (FEM) 108.
  • MAC media access controller
  • FEM front-end module
  • the MAC 106 may be generally configured to communicate an electrical signal (e.g., a data signal) with the MCU 102 (e.g., via an electrical connection 150) and to communicate a MAC layered data signal with the FEM 108 (e.g., via electrical connection 152).
  • the MAC 106 may be generally configured to provide addressing and/or to provide channel access control mechanisms (e.g., for controlling data signal traffic).
  • the MAC 106 may be configured to implement a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol, a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol, a carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) protocol, a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance and resolution using priorities (CSMA/CARP) protocol, multiple access with collision avoidance (MAC A) protocol, multiple access with collision avoidance for wireless (MACAW) protocol, a pure ALOHA protocol, a slotted ALOHA protocol, a reservation ALOHA (R-ALOHA) protocol, a mobile slotted ALOHA (MS-ALOHA) protocol, a dynamic time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol, a distributed coordination function (DCF), a point coordination function (PCF), a hybrid coordination function (HCF), or any other suitable media access protocol as would be appreciated by of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • CSMA carrier sense multiple access
  • CSMA/CA carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance
  • CSMA/CD carrier sense multiple access with
  • the FEM 108 may be generally configured to communicate a MAC layered data signal with the MAC 106 (e.g., via electrical connection 152) and to communicate a physical signal with the BFAA 200 (e.g., via electrical connection 154).
  • the FEM 108 may be generally configured to filter an electrical signal (e.g., a MAC layered data signal), to amplify an electrical signal, to mix an electrical signal (e.g., up-convert an electrical signal or down-convert an electrical signal), to modulate an electrical signal, to control or configure an electrical current flow path (e.g., open or close one or more antenna switches), any other suitable signal processing as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure, or combination thereof.
  • an electrical signal e.g., a MAC layered data signal
  • an electrical signal e.g., a MAC layered data signal
  • an electrical signal e.g., up-convert an electrical signal or down-convert an electrical signal
  • modulate an electrical signal e.g., open or close one or more antenna switches
  • the FEM 108 may be configured to modulate an electrical signal, for example, to implement frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) modulation, direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) modulation, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), high rate direct sequence spread spectrum (FIR-DSSS), or any other suitable modulation technique as would be appreciate by one of ordinary skill in art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • FHSS frequency hopping spread spectrum
  • DSSS direct sequence spread spectrum
  • OFDM orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
  • FIR-DSSS high rate direct sequence spread spectrum
  • the BFAA 200 may be configured to interface and/or to couple to the transceiver 104 and/or FEM 108 (e.g., via electrical connection 154) and to receive and/or to transmit a RF signal (e.g., WiFi signal) to/from the WLAN device 100.
  • a RF signal e.g., WiFi signal
  • the BFAA 200 may general comprise a reflector 202 and a plurality of antenna elements 204 (e.g., antenna elements 204a-204d).
  • antenna elements 204 e.g., antenna elements 204a-204d.
  • the reflector 202 may generally comprise a material suitable for reflecting at least a portion of a RF signal, for example, an RF signal transmitted by one or more antenna elements 204.
  • the reflector 202 may generally comprise a solid metal surface and/or a wire metal surface, for example, a material formed of aluminum, copper, gold, any other suitable conductive material, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure, or combination thereof.
  • the reflector 202 may comprise one or more folds and/or two or more segments (e.g., metal surfaces) joined along one or more edges of each of the segments. For example, in the embodiment of FIG.
  • the reflector 202 may comprise four solid metal surface segments (e.g., reflector segments 202a-202d) positioned about perpendicular (e.g., about 90 degrees) with respect to each other and may be joined along a common edge (e.g., along a vertical axis 504).
  • the reflector 202 e.g., the reflector segments 202a-202d
  • the reflector segments 202a-202d may be configured to partition a horizontal plane (e.g., a plane defined by a first horizontal axis 500 and a second horizontal axis 502) into a plurality of sectors (e.g., sectors 510a-510d).
  • a reflector may comprise 6 segments, 8 segments, 10 segments, 12 segments, or any other number of segments as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure. Additionally or alternatively, a reflector may span less than a complete circle, e.g. about 90 degrees, about 180 degrees, or about 270 degrees, or may span a complete circle, e.g. about 360 degrees. In embodiments, the reflector (e.g., the plurality of reflector segments) may further divide the horizontal plane into additional sectors, thereby increasing the resolution or granularity of the horizontal plane that can be addresses, as will be disclosed herein.
  • the reflector 202 structure and/or shape may be configured to be cylindrical, spherical, parabolic, or any other suitable shape as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • the width of a cross section 512 of the reflector 202 may be about 50 millimeters (mm), 25 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, or any other suitable width as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • the height 514 of the reflector 202 may be about 64 mm, 32 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, 200 mm, or any other suitable length as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • the antenna elements 204 may be configured to transmit and/or to receive a RF signal (e.g., a WiFi signal) and to be responsive to one or more predetermined frequency bands.
  • a RF signal e.g., a WiFi signal
  • the antenna elements 204 may be configured to be responsive to a RF signal (e.g., a WiFi signal) within a predetermined frequency band, for example, a frequency band as defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard (e.g., the 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) band or the 5 GHz band).
  • the antenna elements 204 may be configured to be responsive to any other suitable frequency band as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • the antenna elements 204 may generally comprise a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a folded dipole antenna, a patch antenna, a microstrip antenna, a loop antenna, an omnidirectional antenna, a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA), a folded inverted conformal antenna (FICA), any other suitable type and/or configuration of antenna as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure, or combinations thereof.
  • the BFAA 200 may generally comprise four dipole antenna elements 204a-204c.
  • a BFAA may comprise any suitable number and/or type of antenna elements as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • one or more antenna elements 204 may be positioned within and/or substantially adjacent to one or more sectors (e.g., sectors 510a-510d) defined by the reflector 202, as previously disclosed.
  • the antenna elements 204 may have a spacing 516 of about 62.5 mm, 31.5 mm, 20 mm, 75 mm, or any other suitable spacing as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • the antenna elements 204 and the reflector 202 may not be in direct contact with each other and may be separated by air.
  • the antenna elements 204 may be configured to be selectively activatable and to be activated individually or in combination with two or more antenna elements.
  • the BFAA 200 may be configured to adjust and/or to steer the antenna RF pattem of the BFAA 200, for example, for targeting one or more users. Beam forming methods are well known in the art, and any suitable beam forming method may be used herewith.
  • the BFAA 200 may be configured to activate one or more antenna elements 204 in conjunction with at least a portion of the reflector 202, thereby forming an antenna RF pattern or beam within one or more sectors (e.g., sectors 510a-510d) defined by the BFAA 200 and/or the reflector 202.
  • sectors e.g., sectors 510a-510d defined by the BFAA 200 and/or the reflector 202.
  • the BFAA 200 may be configured to adjust an antenna RF pattem 350 towards the direction of a first target user 302a and a second target user 302b. Additionally, in such an embodiment, the BFAA 200 may be configured to substantially suppress the antenna RF pattern 350 in the direction away from the target users 302a-302b and/or in the direction of one or more non-target users 304a-304b.
  • the use of reflectors 202 may produce better results than similar systems lacking a reflector.
  • the BFAA 200 is configured to activate a single sector (e.g., sector 600a) of the BFAA 200 and to form an antenna RF beam 351 in the general direction of one or more target users (e.g., target user 302).
  • the BFAA 200 may be configured to interface with a plurality of switches on the transceiver 104 such that the plurality of switches selectively activates (e.g., provides electrical communication between the BFAA 200 and the transceiver 104) one or more of the antenna elements 204.
  • the antenna RF beam 351 may be at least partially suppressed in one or more sectors (e.g., a second sector 600b, a third sector 600c, and a fourth sector 600d) where the target user is not located.
  • one or more of the switches on the transceiver 104 may not activate one or more of the antenna elements 204.
  • the BFAA 200 is configured to activate two sectors (e.g., a first sector 600a and a second sector 600d) of the BFAA 200 and to form an RF antenna beam 352 in the general direction of one or more target users (e.g., target user 302).
  • the antenna RF beam 351 may be at least partially suppressed in one or more sectors (e.g., a third sector 600b and a fourth sector 600c) where the target user is not located.
  • the BFAA 200 is configured to activate two non-neighboring sectors (e.g., a first sector 600d and a second sector 600b) of the BFAA 200 and to form an antenna RF beam 353 directed towards two target users (e.g., a first target user 302a and a second target user 302b).
  • the antenna RF beam 353 may be at least partially suppressed in one or more sectors (e.g., a third sector 600c and a fourth sector 600a) where the target users are not located.
  • the BFAA 200 is configured to activate all of the sectors (e.g., a first sector 600a, a second sector 600b, a third sector 600c, and a fourth sector 600d) of the BFAA 200 and to form an antenna RF beam 354 directed towards a plurality of target users (e.g., the first target user 302a, the second target user 302b, the third target user 302c, and the fourth target user 302d).
  • the BFAA 200 may be configured to activate any other suitable number and/or combinations of antenna elements as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure.
  • a beam forming method utilizing the BFAA 200 and/or a system comprising a BFAA 200 is disclosed herein.
  • a beam forming method may generally comprise the steps of identifying one or more target users 802, determining an antenna configuration 804, activating one or more antenna elements 806, and communicating with the target user 808.
  • a beam forming method may further comprise identifying one or more additional target users, determining an antenna configuration, activating one or more antenna elements, and communicating with the target users.
  • a WLAN device and/or a BFAA such as BFAA 200
  • a location having one or more wireless broadband users e.g., WiFi users
  • the WLAN device and/or the BFAA 200 may be provided to a business center, an office, a hotel, a hospital, a university, and/or any other suitable location as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
  • one or more of the users may be authorized to access the WLAN device.
  • one or more of the users may be able to provide and/or to transmit an authentication signal (e.g., a password or a passkey).
  • the BFAA 200 may scan the surrounding environment to identify and/or to locate one or more authorized users.
  • the WLAN device may scan (e.g., activate) each of the sectors of the BFAA 200, for example, to interrogate a user and/or to listen for an RF signal (e.g., an authentication signal), thereby identifying one or more authorized target users and the relative location of the one or more authorized target users with respect to the BFAA 200.
  • an RF signal e.g., an authentication signal
  • the WLAN device may configure the BFAA 200 such that an antenna RF beam is formed in one or more sectors of the BFAA 200 in the general direction of the one or more authorized target users. For example, referring again to FIG. 4, the BFAA 200 activates one or more antenna elements 204 in conjunction with at least a portion of the reflector 202, thereby forming the antenna RF beam, as previously disclosed. Additionally, in such an embodiment, the WLAN device may further configure the BFAA 200 to substantially suppress an antenna RF beam in one or more sectors of the BFAA 200 not having an authorized target user.
  • the WLAN device and/or the BFAA 200 may establish a communication channel between the WLAN device and/or the BFAA 200 and the one or more authorized users, for example, via a CSMA protocol.
  • the WLAN device may communicate (e.g., transmit and/or receive) an RF signal with the one or more authorized target users.
  • the WLAN device may communicate a plurality of data packets with the one or more authorized target user via the BFAA 200.
  • the process of identifying one or more target users, determining an antenna configuration, activating one or more antenna elements, and communicating with the target users may be repeated.
  • the BFAA 200 may be reconfigured to form an alternative antenna RF beam in the generally direction of the authorized target users.
  • a BFAA 200 a system comprising a BFAA 200, and/or a beam forming method employing a system and/or a BFAA 200, as disclosed herein or in some portion thereof, may be advantageously employed during wireless communications operations.
  • conventional methods of employing beam forming may require the use of directional antenna elements and/or one or more active circuits (e.g., amplifiers, phase shifting circuits, etc.).
  • the BFAA 200 enables an adjustable antenna RF beam without the use of directional antenna elements, phase shifting, and/or one or more active circuits (e.g., amplifiers, phase shifting circuits, etc.), as previously disclosed.
  • the WLAN device may be able to form an adjustable antenna RF beam to communicate with one or more target users while substantially suppressing the antenna RF beam in areas without a target user. Therefore, the methods disclosed herein provide a means by which the performance of the WLAN device can be improved.
  • R Ri + k * (R u - Ri), wherein k is a variable ranging from 1 percent to 100 percent with a 1 percent increment, i.e., k is 1 percent, 2 percent, 3 percent, 4 percent, 5 percent, ... , 50 percent, 51 percent, 52 percent, 95 percent, 96 percent, 97 percent, 98 percent, 99 percent, or 100 percent.
  • any numerical range defined by two R numbers as defined in the above is also specifically disclosed. The use of the term about means ⁇ 10% of the subsequent number, unless otherwise stated.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
  • Radio Transmission System (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif de point d'accès sans fil comprenant une unité de microcontrôleur, un émetteur-récepteur couplé à l'unité de microcontrôleur, et une antenne de formation de faisceau couplée à l'émetteur-récepteur, l'antenne de formation de faisceau comprenant un réflecteur, un commutateur, et deux éléments d'antenne ou plus sensiblement adjacents au réflecteur et couplés chacun au commutateur. L'invention concerne un procédé de formation de faisceau comprenant l'identification d'un ou plusieurs utilisateurs cibles, la détermination d'une configuration d'antenne, l'activation d'un ou plusieurs éléments d'antenne comprenant chacun un réflecteur, pour permettre ainsi la focalisation d'un motif de radiofréquence d'antenne vers les utilisateurs cibles, et la communication avec les utilisateurs cibles, pour permettre ainsi la transmission de données aux utilisateurs cibles ou la réception de données provenant des utilisateurs cibles.
EP13860586.0A 2012-12-07 2013-12-09 Réseau d'antennes de formation de faisceau Withdrawn EP2917964A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/708,554 US20140159958A1 (en) 2012-12-07 2012-12-07 Beam Forming Antenna Array
PCT/CN2013/088865 WO2014086318A1 (fr) 2012-12-07 2013-12-09 Réseau d'antennes de formation de faisceau

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2917964A1 true EP2917964A1 (fr) 2015-09-16
EP2917964A4 EP2917964A4 (fr) 2015-11-04

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13860586.0A Withdrawn EP2917964A4 (fr) 2012-12-07 2013-12-09 Réseau d'antennes de formation de faisceau

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US (1) US20140159958A1 (fr)
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WO2014086318A1 (fr) 2014-06-12
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JP2016506129A (ja) 2016-02-25
CN105103372A (zh) 2015-11-25

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